Men's basketball: CU Buffs earn sweep by beating Oregon State

Roberson, Dinwiddie will Buffs to victory

Colorado's Andre Robeson (21) defends a shot by Oregon State's Roberto Nelson (55) during the first half of Sunday's game in Corvallis.
(
Greg Wahl-Stephens
)

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Roberto Nelson and Ahmad Starks were great.

Spencer Dinwiddie was perfect.

Colorado's sophomore point guard was 8-for-8 at the free throw line, 6-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from 3-point distance to lead the Buffs to a 72-68 victory over Oregon State on Sunday night at Gill Coliseum.

"The difference in the game?" CU head coach Tad Boyle said. "We had Spencer Dinwiddie and they didn't."

The Buffs (16-7, 6-5) -- who pulled off their first two-game road sweep as members of the Pac-12 -- actually have two closers in the bullpen.

Andre Roberson and Dinwiddie, who both made the plays down the stretch that allowed CU to upset No. 19 Oregon on Thursday, showed off the killer instinct again.

With just under 3 minutes remaining and the score tied 63-63, Roberson made a brilliant steal and save -- losing a shoe in the process -- which led to a rebound dunk by Xavier Johnson on the other end.

"I knew they were going to try and go inside to big Joe (Burton)," Roberson said. "They actually threw a lob and he tried to catch it with one hand, that's when I went up with two and kind of tipped it. I guess he stepped on my shoe, it wasn't tied enough, but I saved it."

The Buffs never looked back and can now look ahead to Thursday's highly anticipated rematch with No. 7 Arizona at a sold-out Coors Events Center.

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"We accomplished something really good, and I feel great," Johnson said of CU's first road wins at both Oregon and Oregon State since 1955. "It says that we have a lot of character and we don't give up."

Dinwiddie scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half. He made two clutch 3-pointers to bring the visitors back from a seven-point deficit and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line over the final 1:41.

"Normally I take shots that I can make," Dinwiddie said of his flawless offensive evening. "So I expect to make every shot."

Dinwiddie fouled Nelson, Oregon State's leading scorer, on a 3-pointer. He made all three free throws to make the score 67-66.

Other than that miscue, the Buffs cranked up the defense and held the Beavers (12-12, 2-9) without a field goal for over four minutes down the stretch.

"I'm not sure we deserved to win that game, but we found a way to do it and I think this team is really growing up before our eyes," Boyle said after his team gave up 14 offensive rebounds and was beaten 39-30 on the glass.

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